Chapter 61

EP.61 Black Disaster

"It's snowing."

Time passed quickly.

After the last bridge terror attack, there was still quite some time before Behemoth's Han River dive, or the "Han River Plunge" for short.

Since it would happen around March, I played around until then. Well, playing is good. Playing is the best.

I even thought about causing another terror attack before the Han River Plunge.

But the more I thought about it, the more I realized there was no need to. After all, Stardust had already become as strong as he was in the third year of the original timeline... And the most important thing is that it's cold in winter. The Mapo Bridge in December was already cold, so how cold would it be now? It's generally better for both villains and heroes to carry out terror attacks when the weather is warm.

So, I stayed at home.

I should catch up on some games.

Even if I stayed at home, there were so many people around that I never got bored. In the large mansion in the mountains, there were me, Se-eun, Subin, and Hayul and his sister, making a total of five of us.

The siblings had just returned from school for winter break. What the heck...

I don't understand why I went through all the trouble to expedite Se-eun's administrative records to get her into school quickly. I'm sorry, Se-eun.

Anyway, Cha-yoon, Hayul's younger brother, who had just started middle school, was studying even harder. Seriously, why is a kid who's just entering middle school studying so hard? Weren't middle schoolers supposed to play more?

As a result of Cha-yoon's hard work, Hayul, who was watching him, started studying too. But, you don't need to study since you have healing powers, right?

Well, Hayul is a senior in high school now, so it's understandable that he's studying. Seeing him open his books and study for the college entrance exam, it seems that whether in this life or the previous one, Korean college entrance examinees are destined to study. Oh well...

To help Hayul, who had forgotten most of what he learned after high school due to his life on the streets, Subin took on the role of a one-on-one tutor. Right, I forgot that Subin went to Seoul National University. He knows the most about college entrance exams among us.

By the way, isn't Subin too busy these days? We take turns with household chores, but on top of that, he's also assisting Se-eun and taking care of the two kids' studies. In a way, he's raising Hayul and his sister alone. Anyone would think he's their mother.

While everyone was so busy, I... well...

Well, I've worked hard so far, right? It's okay to play.

Of course, I didn't just play all the time. I also made plans to recruit villains and wrote in my diary from time to time...

But, the time I spent lying down and playing games with Se-eun was overwhelmingly more. We cleared dozens of games sitting on the living room sofa. Some of the harder games couldn't be cleared without playing together.

"Bro! Quick, parry! Parry and save me!"

"Okay. Got it! Saved."

"Phew. If we just get this guy, we're clear, right?"

That's how I spent my time idly.

It wasn't just staying at home; on snowy days, we also went outside to have snowball fights. I dragged Hayul and his sister and Subin outside. If you stay cooped up in the house too much, you can't function, so you need to go out and play.

"Ah! Bro! Come here!"

"No way? Ehehehe."

"No! Teleporting is cheating!"

"Hehe... Hic!"

"Subin, don't just stand there, play with us! Hey!"

"Da-in... is dead..."

That day, I learned that Subin can be scary when he's angry.

Today's lesson: Don't throw a snowball at Subin's face when he's standing still.

The siblings were rolling a snowball to make a snowman. It's definitely snowing a lot here because it's in the mountains.

A snowy mountain village had its own charm. Moving here was a good decision. This place is a hundred times better than the underground base. We're deep in the mountains, and with the security systems in place, no one can get close, so we can stay outside as much as we want.

Of course, there's the issue of having to use the teleportation device every time we go to the city, but that's a small price to pay.

Time flowed smoothly, and Christmas came around. To change the mood, we even put up a Christmas tree twice the height of a person.

As January and February passed, time flowed peacefully.

...But, time flies when you're having fun, doesn't it?

Time flowed smoothly.

Being deep in the mountains, I almost forgot about the outside world. It's nice.

Occasionally, watching Stardust fight various villains while eating popcorn was one of the few events. Unlike Se-eun, Hayul and his sister secretly enjoyed watching the fights. They seemed to watch it like an action movie... or maybe they just enjoyed the popcorn?

While I was spending my time peacefully, it seemed that the Mango Stick kids were going through a tough time.

The smear campaigns against me continued, and I wasn't active.

I'm sorry, kids...! But, the day of light will come soon, so just hang in there!

With various events, March finally arrived.

Cha-yoon started middle school, and Hayul returned to his original high school as a senior.

I was a bit worried about how they would adapt, but it seemed they were making friends and settling in well, which was a relief.

Both were assigned to a girls' high school and a technical middle school near the house with the underground base, and they were doing well.

Thinking about it, Se-eun is also a high school student now.

When I asked if she was going to school, she replied that she had no reason to go and that she didn't have time to mess with computer networks.

...Well, I didn't really expect her to go. Actually, it would be a bit problematic if she did. Se-eun is essential to my plans.

After living together for three months, everyone got along well. Even Hayul and Se-eun, who were a bit awkward at first, became close like siblings. Time is indeed a great healer.

Anyway, March slowly passed.

So.

It's time.

The alpha and omega of Han Group's ambitious world domination project. The day when the giant worm, as big as the 63 Building, would emerge is approaching.

In the original timeline, it destroyed all the cities north of Seoul and devastated North Korea, but it would drown and die helplessly because of a bridge I destroyed as an excuse for a terror attack.

This is probably the biggest twist I'll make to the original story.

The day that will change the fate of South Korea, which was heading towards a dystopian future.

I spent each day waiting for that day.

Finally, one day.

It finally appeared.

***

Seoul, daytime.

The city overlooking the Han River.

This place, where various people gathered and went about their own business, looked as ordinary as ever.

Until now.

"...?"

A sudden vibration in the quiet city.

The ground began to shake strongly, as if an earthquake had occurred, causing people to fall into confusion.

The vibration that shook the ground for several minutes.

And then, suddenly, it stopped.

And.

Suddenly.

From under the ground of the Han Group building facing the Han River.

Something black burst out, destroying the building.

It was like a black tower.

A black disaster made up of countless tentacles.

Kwaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh